Study finds Jackson has lowest commercial real estate cost

JACKSON — The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, using the results from the 2012 Experience Exchange Report (EER), has compiled a list of the most and least expensive commercial real estate city-markets in the United States.

The annual report aggregates rental income and operating expense figures from the previous year; in 2011, data was gathered from more than 5,400 buildings across 125 distinct markets.

In New York City, average total operating plus fixed expenses were $21.46 per square foot (psf), while they averaged just $4.71 psf in Jackson. Operating expenses increased in most markets in the last year, but rent-based income and overall income also saw increases, which helped insulate building owners and managers as their profits continue to gradually return.

The five most expensive city-markets (total rental income) are:

1. New York, N.Y.: $45.15 per square foot (psf)

2. Washington, D.C.: $44.10 psf

3. Boston, Mass.: $35.51 psf

4. San Francisco, Calif.: $34.24 psf

5. San Mateo, Calif.: $33.80 psf

The five least expensive city-markets (total rental income) are:

1. Shreveport, La.: $11.76 per square foot (psf)

2. Dayton, Ohio: $11.79 psf

3. Harrisburg, Penn.: $13.41 psf

4. Saint Louis, Mo.: $15.35 psf

5. Nashville, Tenn.: $15.54 psf

Total rental income includes rental income from office, retail and other space, such as storage areas. As the commercial real estate market continues its recovery, most areas are seeing meaningful increases in rental income, suggesting that tenants may begin to see rental rates increase as building owners become more confident in their earning potential.